how has country music changed over the years?

Question

im writing an essay on how country music has changed over the years and i need help!

Answer 1

I started as a country music broadcaster in 1981 at age 17. The "Classic Gold" singles were always in demand, and I never could play enough oldies. I didn't know anything about them at the time. All I knew from honest research is that the tradition of country music since 1922 is to keep it simple and keep it human.

Today's "country, with Tim McGraw and Shania Twain and Kenny Chesney making studio-perfect songs, is trying to sound country, but it gives it an awful lot of unnecessary shine. It's not simple and straightforward like the old Marty Robbins and Mickey Newbury sounds.

Maybe you think the newer music is improved, but the genuine sound of old country music isn't being carried up by that sound made today. It's like eating at Taco Bell - kind of an appetite suppresant that can't satisfy like the real thing.

Answer 2

This is a rather complex question but I will make an attempt at answering it. In the early days back in the 1920's it was labeled as cowboy music and then in the 30's it was called hillbilly music. The name hillbilly sort of stuck for the next couple of decades then the name of country-western was given to it. Then the name of country-western was dropped for the simple name of country music.

In the beginning the artists recorded their songs in hotel rooms and such long before there were studios. Some early artists even recorded their songs in remote locations in the field so to speak. The 1940's through the 1970's went basically unchanged as far as the music. With the arrival of the 1980's country music started changing from raw talent and hard times getting your material recorded to a time when if you had a half decent voice you could still land a recording contract.

In the 1990's it all really took a turn when the decisions about who got to record their material was given to people in New York who didn't know a bull from a bass fiddle. Then lo and behold the 2000's afforded the same thing except if you had tight jeans (if you were male) and had a big ten gallon hat or if you were a female you had a nice rear end or cleavage you could get on a label. Unfortunately that is the way it remains today. There is nowhere near the talent that the forefathers of country music had in the earlier days. The talent is far below what I would call good and so I guess it will continue that way until the powers that be decide country music needs to be put back where it used to be. There are those still out there such as myself and okiefan who try our best to keep traditional country music in the front.

Another huge difference is that the earlier entertainers spent most of their time travelling from one gig to the other stacked 4-5 people deep in a car and travelled the dirt roads of our great land whereas now they have air conditioned buses with all the amenities of home.

I will always be trying to keep traditional music out there until my life is over. I hope that this has helped you out.



Special Note: Thank you millerscave for remembering my relative when you mentioned Tommy Collins. It is greatly appreciated.

Answer 3

How has country music changed over the years? FOR THE WORST. I'm so glad there are other people out there that feel the same as I do. Hank III tells it like it is and should be respected for rejecting the new country sound. Today's songs played on "country" radio are sometimes catchy and can be very meaningful; however, those songs should not be labeled as country. Real country is sadly fading fast and is being replaced by pure pop music that just happens to be accompanied by a slight twang or fiddle to make it "country"- it's a joke and disrespectful to true country artists of the past.

Answer 4

I have no idea a lot about nation. In any respect. But nation, to me, is about sadness. The country songs were about divorce and domestic abuse and real existence issues. It used to be just actual. Nowadays... Country would as good be called sugar covered pop, what with Taylor Swift successful all the CMA's she will be able to get. She sings about fairytales and first rate dates. It's now not country. She has the accent and the guitar... But it's now not nation.

Answer 5

it started classical, nothing loud. and then in the 80's it started to get a little bit more like pop. For refrences or cd's you could listen to, to hear how it changed which I think are very helpful is go online and find really old Reba McEntire cd's and then compare them to her most recent albums. I think listening to great singers that have lasted over the years help alot and if you need to do a presentation then bring in some cd's. I've heard some of her really old cd's and they sound like what we would call old country or classic country, also listen to people like Kenny rogers, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Barbara Mandrell. Hope This Helps!!!

Answer 6

This song could be your entire essay:



Murder On Music Row Lyrics
Nobody saw them running
From 16th Avenue
They never found the fingerprints
Or the weapon that was used
But someone killed country music
Cut out its heart and soul
They got away with murder
Down on music row

The almight dollar
And the lust for worldwide fame
Slowly killed tradition
And for that, someone shouldhang ("Ahh, you tell 'em Alan")
They all say "Not Guilty!"
But the evidence will show
That murder was committed
Down on music row

For the steel guitars no longer cry
And the fiddles barely play
But drums and rock 'n' roll guitars
Are mixed up in your face
Ol' Hank wouldn't have a chance
On today's radio
Since they committed murder
Down on music row

They thought no one would miss it
Once it was dead and gone
They said no one would buy them ol'
Drinkin' and cheatin' songs ("Oh, but I still buy 'em")
Well there ain't no justice in it
And the hard facts are cold
Murder's been committed
Down on music row

For the steel guitars no longer cry
And you can't hear fiddles play
With drums and rock 'n' roll guitars
Mixed right up in your face
Why the Hag wouldn't have a chance
On today's radio
Since they committed murder
Down on music row

Why they even tell the Possum
To pack up and go back home
There's been an awful murder
Down on music row

Answer 7

I love this question, but... you might not like the answer!!!
Before Garth, Tim, Kenny, etc. There was Merle, Conway, George (Jones) (but, lets throw some Strait in there), Buck Owens, and (lest we forget Tommy C.) they had jukeboxes that were monitered which were measured by the # of times that song was played !!! (and I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT PAYOLA !!!!!)
But now a days they do it by the sale of a C.D. by the bar codes !!!!!!!

Answer 8

Country music,has become citified,and trashed,Artist? wear Wal-Mart cowboy hats ,that glare in the spotlights,Not to many years you used to hear a country song,and knew who the artist was ,and usually knew all the words.To heck with the trash ville sound!

Answer 9

Much of it's become more like pop music. Aside from having guitars tuned a certain way as well steel guitars and fiddles, much of it is pretty much indistinguishable from regular pop music.

Answer 10

Cuntry music has sold. they've been trying for year to cross over to pop & have finally reached it.

some of the best Country music will never be heard on your radio. POP COUNTRY SUCKS